Marlin fishing is considered by many game fishermen to be the pinnacle of
offshore game fishing, due to the size and power of marlin, relative rareness
and difficulty of capture. It is also expensive, requiring considerable money
to pursue as a regular hobby.

Blue marlin

Blue marlin are possibly the most sought-after marlin species. Beautiful in
form, capable of spectacular fighting ability and having the potential to reach
great sizes, blue marlin have inspired and continue to inspire the dedicated
pursuit of thousands of skippers, crews and anglers.

Distribution

Blue marlin are inhabitants of tropical oceanic waters worldwide, occurring
both in the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific. Spawning is carried out in tropical
waters and many individuals probably remain in tropical waters year round;
however, significant seasonal migrations are made into the temperate waters of
the northern and southern hemispheres to take advantage of feeding
opportunities as northern and southern waters warm in spring and summer.
Although blue marlin have the ability to thermoregulate, the lower limit of their temperature
tolerance is thought to be in the region of approximately 20 degrees Celsius
(68 degrees Fahrenheit) (although individual fish have been caught in cooler
temperatures); warm currents such as the Gulf
Stream in the western Atlantic and the Agulhas Current in the western Indian Ocean serve as
oceanic highways for blue marlin migration and have a major influence on their
seasonal distribution. Larger individuals have the greatest temperature
tolerance, and blue marlin encountered at the limits of their range tend to be
large fish.

In the western Atlantic blue marlin can be seasonally found as far north as
George's Bank and the continental shelf canyons off Cape Cod, influenced by the
warm current of the Gulf Stream, and as far south as southern Brazil and
Uraguay; in the eastern Atlantic their seasonal range extends northward to the
Algarve
coast of Portugal and southward to the southern coast of Angola - some blue
marlin are found at the southernmost tip of the continent, though whether they
are Atlantic stock or Pacific stock is debatable, especially since an
individual fish tagged in the western Atlantic was re-caught in the Indian
Ocean off the island of Mauritius. Vagrant individuals have been taken by rod
and reel as far north as Biscay (2005) and some fish have been commercially
caught off south-west Ireland.

In the Pacific, blue marlin are seasonally found as far north as southern
Japan and as far south as the Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand.
Blue marlin in the eastern Pacific migrate as far north as Southern California
and as far south as northern Peru. The southern limit of their distribution in
the eastern Indian Ocean appears to be the waters of Albany and Perth in
Western Australia, and in the western Indian Ocean blue marlin have been taken
as far south as Cape Town.

Blue marlin have been found in the open ocean in thousands of fathoms of
water, thousands of miles from land; however, they concentrate in their
greatest numbers in areas where bottom structure (islands, seamounts, banks,
and the edge of the continental shelf) create upwelling
that brings deep nutrient-rich water close to the surface, sparking off
plankton blooms that result in a food chain that ends in large marine predators
such as dolphins, whales, large tuna and billfish. In temperate waters, the interaction of
warm currents with these bottom structures is critical in setting up suitable
environmental conditions for blue marlin and other warmwater gamefish.
Temperature breaks created where bodies of warm and cool water are pushed up
against each other also act as a less tangible form of structure which attracts
bait and gamefish, including blue marlin.

Spawning locations are believed to include the islands of the Caribbean in
the western Atlantic, the Gulf of Guinea in the eastern Atlantic, Hawaii, and
Mauritius.

Genetic structure

Scientists distinguish between two species of blue marlin, the Atlantic blue
marlin (Makaira nigricans) and the Pacific blue marlin (Makaira mazara).
Genetic studies have shown that the p-phenotype is prevalent in both oceans,
whereas the a-phenotype has not been recorded in the Indian or Pacific oceans;
hence a large percentage of blue marlin found in the Atlantic are actually the
same genetically as Pacific blue marlin.

Age

The 1656lb Blue marlin caught in 1984 on Black Bart was aged by biologists
at 32 years. It is estimated they can live to 50 years old.

Size

Blue marlin are sexually dimorphic: adult males seldom exceed 150 kg (300
lb) whereas females may reach far larger sizes well in excess of 450 kg (1,000
lb). The maximum size of blue (and black) marlin is often debated in both sport
fishing and scientific circles. The largest sport fishing capture on record is
a 1,805 lb fish caught by a party of anglers in Oahu, Hawaii aboard the charter
boat Coreene C skippered by Capt. Cornelius This fish holds the International
Game Fish Association all-tackle and 130 lb class record for Atlantic blue
marlin.

Commercial fishermen have boated far larger specimens: the largest blue
marlin brought into Tsukiji market in Tokyo supposedly weighed a massive 1,106
kg or (2,438lb). It is not know if it was the same fish but it was said that in
Okinawa a commercial fisherman using a handline caught a blue marlin. It is
said to have "bottomed" one ton scale (1,000 kg or approx 2,200 lbs).

A 1,000 lb (450 kg) fish, a "grander", has historically been regarded for
blue and black marlin as the benchmark for a truly outstanding catch. For most
marlin anglers, a 1,000 lb fish represents the fish of a lifetime. Sadly,
because of ever-increasing commercial fishing effort across the world's oceans,
it seems unlikely that sport fishermen will ever break the legendary "tonner"
(2,000 lb) mark in the future. That said Bart Miller is said have hooked an
estimated 3000lb blue marlin which was estimated to measure 25 feet or more
long.

Diet

Blue marlin are eclectic feeders preying on a wide range of prey species and
sizes. Scientific examination of blue marlin stomach contents has yielded
organisms as small as miniature filefish. Common food items include tuna-like
fishes, particularly skipjack tuna and frigate mackerel (also known as
frigate tuna), squid, mackerel, and
scad. Larger fish are said to feed on yellowfin tuna.

Of more interest to sport fishermen is the upper range of blue marlin prey
size. A 72-inch white marlin has been recorded as being found in the stomach of
a 448 lb blue marlin caught at Walker's Cay in the Bahamas, and more recently,
during the 2005 White Marlin Open a white marlin in the 70 lb class was found
in the stomach of one of the money-winning blues. Shortbill spearfish of 30 to
40 lb have been recorded as feed items by Kona blue marlin fishermen. Yellowfin
tuna of 100 lb or more have also been found in the stomachs of large blue
marlin.

Fishing techniques

Blue marlin are fished for by thousands of crews from literally hundreds of
ports worldwide. As may be expected, fishing styles and gear used in the
pursuit of blue marlin is very diverse, depending on the size of blue marlin
common to the area, the size of fish being targeted, local sea conditions, and
often local tradition. However the main methods used for blue marlin can be
broken down into fishing with artificial lures, rigged natural baits and live
bait fishing.

Artificial lure fishing

Blue marlin are aggressive fish that respond well to the splash, bubble
trail and action of a well presented artificial lure.

Probably the most popular technique used by blue marlin crews worldwide,
artificial lure fishing has spread from its Hawaiian origins throughout the
world. The earliest marlin lures were carved from wood, cast in drinks glasses
or made from chrome bath towel pipes and skirted with rubber inner tubes or
vinyl upholstery material cut into strips. Today, marlin lures are produced in
a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours, mass-produced by large
manufacturers and individually crafted by small-scale custom makers.

A typical marlin lure is a small (7-8 inch), medium (10-12 inch) to large
(14 inches or more) artificial with a shaped plastic or metal head to which a
plastic skirt is attached. The design of the lure head, particularly its face,
gives the lure its individual action when trolled through the water. Lure
actions range from an active side-to-side swimming pattern to pushing water
aggressively on the surface to, most commonly, tracking along in a straight
line with a regular surface pop and bubble trail. Besides the shape, weight and
size of the lure head, the length and thickness of skirting, the number and
size of hooks and the length and size of the leader used in lure rigging all
influence the action of the lure: how actively it will run and how it will
respond to different sea conditions. Experienced anglers will fine tune their
lures with often subtle variations to yield the desired action.

Lures are normally fished at speeds of between 7.5 to 9 knots; faster speeds
in the 10 to 15 knot range are less frequently used, primarily by boats with
slower cruising speeds travelling from spot to spot. These speeds allow quite
substantial areas to be effectively worked in a day's fishing. A pattern of
four or more lures is trolled at varying distances behind the boat. Lures may
be fished either straight from the rod tip ("flat lines"), or from
outriggers.

Natural bait fishing

Rigged natural baits have been used by sport fishermen seeking blue marlin
since the 1930s and are still popular in many top destinations. Throughout the
eastern seaboard of the United States and in the Bahamas and Caribbean, rigged
Spanish mackerel and horse ballyhoo are widely used for Atlantic blue
marlin.

Rigged natural baits are sometimes combined with an artificial lure or skirt
to make "skirted baits" or "bait/lure combinations".

Live bait fishing

Live bait fishing for blue marlin normally uses small tuna species with
skipjack generally considered the best choice. As trolling speed is limited by
the fact that baits must be trolled slowly to remain alive, live-baiting is
normally chosen where fishing areas are relatively small and easily covered.
Much live-baiting in the blue marlin fishery of Kona, Hawaii, for instance,
takes place near FAD (Fish Aggregation Device) buoys and in the vicinity of
steep underwater ledges.

Angling destinations

The Atlantic

Blue marlin have been caught by sportfishermen in the Atlantic from as
early as the 1930s, when sport anglers from Florida began to explore the
Bahamas and Cuba. Authors such as Ernest Hemingway and S.Kip Farrington did much to
attract the attention of big-game anglers to the Bahamian islands of Bimini and
Cat Cay. After the Second World War, and especially from the 1960s onwards,
anglers began pursuing and finding blue marlin in destinations all over the
tropical and subtropical Atlantic.

Bahamas

The Bahama Islands have long been popular destinations for fishermen
seeking blue marlin. Bimini, located at the eastern edge of the Gulf Stream, has the
longest history of blue marlin fishing in the islands, dating back to anglers
such as Michael Lerner, Ernest Hemingway and S.Kip Farrington who fished there
in the 1930s and 1940s.

From the 1960s, more outlying areas such as Walker's Cay and the Abaco islands have developed as blue
marlin grounds.

The Bahamas is home to one of the most intensely competitive tournament
series in marlin fishing, the Bahamas Billfish Championship.

Bermuda

The banks lying off the hook-shaped island of Bermuda
consistently produce blue marlin. Many Bermudian fish are small specimens in
the 150 to 250 lb class but every year much bigger fish in the 600 lb and
larger class are caught. A 1,352 lb giant boated aboard the MAKO IV, skippered
by Captain Allen deSilva, in 1995 stands as the largest blue marlin caught in
Bermudian waters. This fish is also one of the largest blue marlin ever boated
in the Atlantic.

A series of tournaments attracts many top-notch boats and crews from the
United States every summer. Visiting boats and crews join a small but
well-equipped and experienced fleet of charter vessels.

Brazil

The city of Vitória is considered the world capital of Blue marlin fishing by
many anglers but difficulty in travelling there limits access. Fishing is a
popular activity in Vitória, and sport fishing has became more popular in
Vitória each day, attracting fishermen from other states and countries due to
the large population of Marlin and Sailfish off the coast of Espirito Santo. Largest of the many big blue marlin
caught at Vitória is the International Game Fish
Association (IGFA) all-tackle record for Atlantic blue marlin, held by
Paulo Amorim, who caught a Blue Marlin that weighed 636 kg (1,402 lb). Larger Blue
marlin have been caught in Hawaii (1656 lb and 1800 lb+), but these fish were
not captured according to the guidelines of the IGFA.

Cape Verde Islands

This cluster of islands in the eastern tropical Atlantic has proved to be
an outstanding blue marlin fishery since it was first seriously fished in the
1980s. Blue marlin may be caught year-round in Cape Verde waters but the very best fishing
seems to take place between March and May when large numbers of blue marlin
concentrate in island waters. Blues encountered off Cape Verde range widely in
size with many fish of 100 to 350 lb and good numbers of larger fish in the 400
to 600+ lb class. The biggest catch from Cape Verde waters is a 1241 lb caught
in September 2006 near the island of Saint Vincent by angler Barry Silleman
fishing with skipper, Berno Niebuhr. Incidental catches include Wahoo and large
Yellowfin tuna.

Portugal

Although blue marlin are being caught in increasing numbers on the Algarve
coast of Portugal, the main centres of blue marlin fishing in Portugal
are the oceanic islands of the Azores and Madeira.

The Azores

The small port of Horta on Fayal island is synonymous with blue marlin
fishing in the nine-island chain of the Azores. The season
normally begins in late June or early July and continues until weather
conditions put an end to the fishery in mid to late October. Weather conditions
can be unpredictable at the tail-end of the season but in midsummer when the
area is dominated by the Azores high the seas can be very flat.

Although blue marlin can be found close to Fayal island, boats seeking blue
marlin often select three banks that serve as productive feeding locations for
these fish. The Azores sits in the northern extreme of blue marlin distribution
and the fishery is dominated by large fish. 400 to 600 lb fish are average here
and every year fish of 1000 lb and above are encountered. The Azores is home to
Atlantic blue marlin records for, amongst others, IGFA 50 lb and 80 lb line
classes.

Madeira

Between April and October every year some of the biggest blue marlin in the
Atlantic appear off this tiny Portuguese island 360 miles west of the coast of
Morocco.

Big game fishing has taken place in Madeiran waters from as early as the
early 1970s. A number of large blue marlin were caught during the 1980s, but
the focus for most visiting anglers tended to be sharks and the prolific
schools of bigeye tuna.

During 1992 to 1996 Madeira was the scene of some incredible fishing for
giant blue marlin, bringing the island to the attention of marlin fishermen
worldwide. In 1994 alone eight fish of over 1,000 lb were weighed in.

Between 1997 and 2000 blue marlin fishing in Madeira, along with the other
Atlantic islands, underwent a severe downturn, blamed by many on the strong
El Niño event of 1996/1997. However, from 2001 onwards
conditions began to improve and the seasons of 2005 and 2006 have seen Madeira
return to some of its former glory. June to July appear to be the premier
months for blue marlin fishing. The small fleet of charter boats operate out of
the small marina in the island's largest town, Funchal.

The most popular fishing grounds are situated on the south coast of the
island, sheltered by the high cliffs from the prevailing northeast trade winds.
Fishing generally takes place within a few miles of the island and many great
fish are caught well within two miles of the shoreline. Lure fishing is the
most successful method with a wide variety of medium to large artificials from
various sources being successful.

Spain

Canary Islands (Islas Canarias)

Although a number of blue marlin have been brought into ports along the
Atlantic coast of mainland Spain, the subtropical archipelago of the Canary Islands is by far the most prolific blue marlin
grounds in Spain.

Blue marlin appear seasonally in the Canary Islands between May and October
with some individuals having been caught earlier and later in the year.

Sport fishing boats may be chartered from the main islands of Lanzarote,
Fuerteventura, and Tenerife; from
the smaller islands of Graciosa and La Gomera; and from Puerto Rico on the
island of Gran Canaria, which boasts the largest fleet of charterboats
in the Canaries.

The average size of blue marlin encountered in the Canaries tends to be
large, in the 400 to 600+ lb class, including some very large fish upwards of
800 lb. Smaller fish in the 200 to 350 lb class also make an appearance at
times.

United States

North Carolina

The Outer Banks of North Carolina have long been known for their blue
marlin fishing. Since the early 1950's when Ernal Foster on the Albatross I
made the first charter fishing trips for blue marlin, Cape Hatteras has been
known as an important destination for the sportfisherman. Other important
fishing centres include Morehead City, home to the famous Big Rock Blue Marlin
Tournament, and Oregon Inlet. The close proximity of the Gulf Stream and of the
continental shelf edge in the Cape Hatteras area create a productive
combination of current, blue water and ocean temperature that attracts a wide
variety of gamefish including blue marlin.

While the average size of a blue marlin is typically 250 to 400lbs, big
fish inhabit these waters. North Carolina was home to the former all-tackle
world record Atlantic blue marlin, a 1,128 lb fish. The state record stands at
1,142 lbs and more recently a 1,077 lb blue was taken off of Oregon Inlet in
August 2007.

Venezuela

Venezuela's La Guaira Bank sees some of the most prolific blue
marlin fishing in the Atlantic. Blue marlin are present year round with
particularly good numbers in spring. Trolling with ballyhoo baits using
relatively light tackle, often in the 30 lb class, is popular for the variety
of billfish species that can make an appearance in these waters.

Virgin Islands

St Thomas

The island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands is one of the most
renowned Atlantic blue marlin destinations. Full moons from June to October can
see some intense blue marlin fishing in the area known as the 'North Drop'.
Lure fishing, trolling natural baits and bait and switch are all popular. The
former all-tackle world record Atlantic blue of 1,282 lb was boated here.

Indo-Pacific

Blue marlin have probably been known to Japanese high seas fishermen for
centuries. However, the Pacific blue marlin was not officially considered to be
a separate species until 1954; prior to that date, Pacific blues were known as
"silver marlin" or often confused with black marlin. The capture of a 1,002 lb
Pacific blue by skipper George Parker of Kona, Hawaii, was instrumental in
clearing up the identification of Pacific marlin species. Hawaii has continued
to be the major centre of blue marlin fishing in the Pacific, and Hawaiian blue
marlin techniques have been disseminated throughout the Pacific Basin by
travelling anglers and crews, influencing blue marlin fisheries as distant as
Japan and Australia.

Australia

Blue marlin range on both the east and west coasts of Australia, with fish
being recorded as far south as the Tasmanian east coast and Albany on the west
coast. :Notable regions to fish for blue marlin in Australia are
the Cairns region, southern Queensland from Fraser Island to the
Gold Coast, Port
Stephens and Sydney, the New South Wales south coast region (where the
Australian record(s) were caught), Rottnest Island off Perth, Exmouth and
Broome in the northwest of western Australia. On the east Australian coast,
blue marlin are a popular target for anglers fishing out of such ports as Port
Stephens, Sydney and the southern ports of Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, and Bermagui. However, the best scores in
terms of numbers of fish have come from boats fishing the Gold Coast area of
Queensland.

A blue marlin over 1000 lb has not yet been officially recorded in
Australian waters although the Australian record capture (which is also the
ladies all-tackle world record) weighed just under the magic 1000lb. Its weight
997 lb(452.2kg) was caught on 37kg (80lb) tackle whilst fishing from Batemans Bay on the Australian NSW south coast. Apparently
it took some time for the fish to be weighed which almost certainly robbed
angler of a fish of the magic 1000lb. This fish was caught in March 1999 by the
then 27-year old female angler Melanie Kisbee fishing from a boat named Radiant
a 28ft Bertram which was captained by the late Paul Gibson. The fish was caught
on a topgun lure called awesome in blue and pink.

Previous to this record blue marlin the record was held by a 417kg fish
also captured from the port of Batemans Bay during the Tollgate Island Classic putting
Batemans Bay on the map as the home of big blue
marlin. Prior to that the record was held by a fish around 370kg captured in
Bermagui by angler Wayne Cummings.

Several blue marlin 400kg plus range have been tagged and released in
Australia which is now the main method of fishing. The fish
this size appear to be mainly caught on the NSW in summer when the warmer south
east current runs down the coast (January to March) and the water temperature
increases. The larger blue marlin appear to be captured in years when the water
temperate is warmer than usual. Fish larger than a thousand pounds have been
hooked but none so far landed. The fishing season in Australia for blue marlin
is January to May-June.

Blue marlin whilst targeted by some in this region tend to be captured
whilst fishing for striped marlin as they tend to be more prevalant. Fishing
for blue marlin in Australia is a mix of lure, live bait and switch
baiting.

Hawaii

More blue marlin are caught on rod and reel in the Hawaiian Islands than
anywhere in the world. Over 60 fish of over 1,000 lb have been weighed in
Hawaiian waters, including the two largest marlin caught on rod and reel: a
1,805 lb fish caught from Oahu by Capt. Cornelius Choy and a 1,656 lb fish caught off Kona by angler Gary
Merriman aboard the Black Bart, skippered by Capt. Bart Miller, in March
1984.

The town of Kona on the lee coast of the Big Island of Hawaii is
internationally known for its blue marlin fishing, the skill and experience of
its top skippers (many of which are also skilled lure makers) and its
long-standing Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT). A large fleet
of sport fishing vessels operates out of Honohokau Harbour.

Although a blue marlin weighing over 1,000 lb was caught in the Bay of
Islands as early as 1968, striped marlin have traditionally been the main
billfish species in the New Zealand fishery. However, Pacific blue marlin
captures have increased in New Zealand over the last 10 years and blue marlin
are now consistently caught from along the eastern coast of the North Island.
The Waihau Bay and Cape Runaway area is particularly well known for blue
marlin. Blue marlin encountered in New Zealand tend to be of large average size
with most averaging 300 to 500 lb. Larger specimens in the 600 lb plus class
are hooked and landed every year.

Most New Zealand blue marlin are taken by lure fishing with a wide variety
of locally made and imported lures being popular.

In 1930, the American angler Zane
Grey boated the first blue marlin weighing over 1,000 lb fishing a few
miles south of Mataiea, Tahiti. Although damaged by a shark bite, this fish weighed in at
1,040 lb, a remarkable capture on the primitive fishing tackle of that
era.

Offshore fishing in Tahiti began to develop in earnest in the 1960s
following the establishment of the Haura (marlin) Club of Tahiti in 1962. Today
seven gamefishing clubs exist in the Society Islands. As in Hawaii, the average
size of blue marlin in Tahitian waters is in the 90-130 kg range, but many
larger individuals in the 400 lb and larger class are boated each year.

The island nation of Vanuatu appears to be the premier destination for blue
marlin in the South Pacific and one of the best fisheries for Pacific blues in
the world. A ratified 1142 lb fish landed in August, 2007.

Blue marlin in literature

The best-known appearance of a blue marlin in literature is as the noble
adversary of the Cuban fisherman Santiago in the Ernest Hemingway short story, The Old Man and the
Sea.

Black marlin

Black marlin (Makaira indica) are found in the Indian and Pacific oceans
with some vagrant individuals having been reported from the south Atlantic.

Fishing techniques

Black marlin fishing has traditionally conducted with rigged dead baits,
both skipping and swimming. In the historic Cabo Blanco fishery little blind
trolling was done; instead the billfish (striped marlin, black marlin and
swordfish) were sighted cruising or finning on the surface and baited. In the
Cairns fishery a wide variety of baitfish species are used successfully,
including kawa kawa and other small tunas, queenfish and scad. Baits range from
two pound scad to dogtooth tuna and narrowbarred mackerel of twenty pounds and
more.

The use of live bait is also popular for targeting both large and small
black marlin and under the right circumstances is extremely effective, although
sharks and other non-targeted gamefish can often be a problem with this method.
Small live baits such as slimy mackerel and yellowtail scad are highly
effective for juvenile black marlin and are fished both by slow trolling and
drifting. Live bait techniques for larger black marlin are similar to those
used for blue marlin, normally employing bridle-rigged live tunas of between 3
and 25 lbs. The use of a downrigger has proven to be helpful in positioning
baits deeper in the water column.

Artificial lures will catch black marlin of all sizes from 30 and 40 lb
juveniles to the giant females of 1,200 lbs and more. The prevalence of lure
damaging bycatch such as wahoo, barracuda and Spanish (narrowbarred) mackerel
in some areas can make lure fishing an expensive proposition. However, the
faster pace of lure fishing allows larger areas to be searched effectively,
which can be an advantage if the fish seem more dispersed.

Angling destinations

Africa

Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique is a premier destination for giant black
marlin. This fisheries was discovered in the mid 50's from the very basic fleet
operating from St. Carolina island. Until the mid 70's when the country erupted
in a 20 year civil war many fish over the magical 1000 lb barrier were caught.
Marlin fishing in the archipelago is making a big come back and is probably one
of the world's best kept secrets. Few, but good professional operations (mainly
from Indigo Bay Island Resort) fish the area for Black marlin from September to
January and International anglers are finding that the war years left the
resource virtually untouched. The all African record was caught on the north
point of Bazaruto in November 1998, a monster fish of 1298 lb.Skip, swim and
live baits are the most traditional methods, but crews have experimented with
lures over the past few seasons with great success.

Australia

Cairns, Australia is considered the world capital of black marlin
fishing. It is the only confirmed breeding ground for Black marlin as they
synchronise their breeding with the myctophid breeding aggregations and coral
spawns of September, October and November off the Great Barrier Reef in the lizard island to cairns
region.

The region is unquestionably the best place in the world to catch a black
marlin over 1000 lb. Many domestic and international anglers visit the region
during the September to November period in the hope of catching the "fish of a
lifetime". Black marlin can be caught to a size of 1,200-1,300 lb in this
area.

Ecuador

Ever since the world record for Black Marlin was caught in the 50's in
Cabo Blanco, Peru, the Ecuadorian and Peruvian coast
have seen the biggest catches for Black Marlin. In Salinas and Manta several
records have been caught, including the 1014 pound Black Marlin in 1985 at
Manta.

Mexico

Black marlin are consistently, although seldom frequently, caught in
Cabo San Lucas and other Mexican fishing centres. Black
marlin, along with blue marlin, are the targets of the biggest paying marlin
tournament in the world, the Bisbee's Black and Blue, which is fished in the
waters of Cabo San Lucas in October. At present, the offshore structures such
as Corbetana Rock and "El Banco" off Puerto Vallarta appears to offer the best fishing
for black marlin in Mexican waters.

The large vessels of the San Diego Long Range fleet have also caught some
hefty blacks in the 600 lb plus range while fishing for yellowfin tuna at the
Revillagigedos Islands.

Black marlin in Mexican waters, as in most other parts of their range, tend
to associate with reefs, banks and similar offshore structures. Slow trolling
live baits such as skipjack tuna over these structures tends to be the most
effective way to target black marlin. Downriggers are sometimes used to fish
baits deeper.

Panama

On June 11, 1949, pioneering Panamanian angler Louis Schmidt boated a black
marlin that after being cut in half and weighed, tipped the scales at 1,006 lb.
This fish is believed to be the first black marlin of over 1,000 lb caught on
rod and reel.

Today the productive reef areas in Pinas Bay, fished by boats from the
famous Tropic Star Lodge, and the many other reefs and islands along the
Pacific coast of Panama, particularly Coiba Island in the Gulf of Chiriqui,
still have probably the best fishing for black marlin in the western
hemisphere. Black marlin averaging 200 to 500 lb hunt schools of rainbow
runners, black skipjack and other prey over these structures along with large
Pacific sailfish and dorado. Occasional specimens will reach well over 600 lb.
Slow trolling with bridle-rigged live skipjack is the predominant technique
used to target black marlin by the Tropic Star fleet. At Coiba Island the
Hannibal Banks is among most productive areas where trolling lures is employed
successfully.

White marlin

White marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) occur only in the Atlantic Ocean. The
smallest of the marlin species, they are renowned for their speed, leaping
ability, their elegant beauty and the difficulty that anglers often encounter
in baiting and hooking them. They are a premier light-tackle gamefish.

Distribution

White marlin are distributed throughout the tropical and seasonally in
temperate oceanic waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Where environmental conditions (temperature, water colour and clarity) are
favourable, white marlin will often forage in shallow water well inshore of the
continental shelf, taking advantage of the abundant baitfish resources often
found in these areas.

Size

White marlin may reach a potential maximum size of around 220 lb (100 kg).
The International Game Fish Association all-tackle record is held by a
Brazilian fish of 181 lb. Most rod-caught white marlin are far smaller than
this and any white marlin in the 100 lb (45 kg) class is considered an
excellent catch.

Diet

White marlin feed on a variety of schooling baitfish including sardine,
herring and other clupeoids; squid; mackerel; scad; saury; and smaller
tuna-like fishes such as frigate and bullet tuna.

Like their close relatives the striped marlin, and sailfish, white marlin
will often group together to corral schooling baitfish into a tight group for
feeding purposes, a phenomenon commonly referred to as "balling bait".

Genetic structure

Recent genetic studies have suggested that white marlin are a phenotype of
striped marlin.

A number of hybrids between white marlin and the Atlantic longbill spearfish
have also been recorded. It appears that that the two species are sufficiently
close to each other genetically that white marlin and spearfish spawning in the
same area can produce hybrids.

Hatchet marlin

The so-called "hatchet marlin" has recently been confirmed as a separate
species in the Tetrapturus family, which includes white marlin, striped marlin
and spearfish. Although officially known as the roundscale spearfish, this fish
closely resembles the white marlin and most tournaments treat hatchet marlin
catches as white marlin.

Angling destinations

Brazil

Brazil is home to most of the largest white marlin in the IGFA record books.
Areas such as the Charlotte Bank see large numbers of white marlin as well as
blue marlin, sailfish and other blue-water gamefish such as tuna and
dorado.

United States

North Carolina

Cape Hatteras, Oregon Inlet and other fishing areas along
the coast of North Carolina benefit from the close proximity of
the Gulf Stream. White marlin are often targeted by the skilled charter crews
and recreational sport fisherman that fish this area, with August and September
often providing some exceptional fishing.

Trolling with natural baits, predominantly ballyhoo, is the most effective
method and rigging and fishing techniques have been continuously refined and
perfected over the years by the many skilled crewmen that work these
waters.

Venezuela

The La Guaira Bank off the coast of Venezuela hosts great concentrations of
white marlin in season. White marlin can be encountered year round but autumn
is considered the best time to target white marlin in Venezuelan waters.

Venezuelan anglers such as Aquiles Garcia, Rafael Arnal, Ronnie Morrison and
Ruben Jaen honed their techniques and tackle in these fish-rich waters and
their experiences have contributed to many light-tackle billfishing techniques
commonly used today.

Striped marlin

Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) occur in the Indian and Pacific
oceans.

Fishing techniques

Live bait fishing

In Mexican hot spots such as Cabo San Lucas and in Southern California,
anglers cast live baits such as mackerel and
caballito (scad) to striped marlin that may be sighted feeding or finning on
the surface.

Conventional live bait trolling at slow speeds is also highly effective when
concentrations of marlin can be located. Experienced skippers fishing out of
ports such as Bermagui on the south coast of New South
Wales have in the recent past racked up scores of over 100 striped marlin per
season fishing this relatively simple technique at the right time at the right
place. Larger baits such as kahawai and skipjack tuna are often
used for the large striped marlin of New Zealand.

Deep dropping live baits with the aid of sinkers can bring live baits deeper
to feeding fish. This tactic is frequently used in Mexico and in Australia. It
is considered somewhat lowbrow (it has been described as "snapper fishing for
marlin") but is nonetheless highly effective when deep feeding activity
occurs.

Angling destinations

Australia

Although Australia is world famous for its black and and more recently
blue marlin fishery, Striped marlin are often abundant in the subtropical
waters of the vast island continent and are a popular target for Australian
anglers.

The Port Stephens area of New South Wales hosts the country's
largest inter-club tournament and has produced several striped marlin records
on ultra-light and fly tackle. Larger striped marlin in the 250 to 300 lb plus
class often show up in the southern part of their range. Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Bermagui in southern New South Wales is where where fish of this
class can be encountered.

Live-baiting with such baits as slimy mackerel and skipjack tuna, and
trolling artificial lures are the two most common techniques here but many top
crews have experienced great success seeking fly-rod and light-tackle records
via the bait and switch technique.

Striped marlin are also fished for on the Ecuadorian mainland. Salinas in
the southern part of the country and Manta further north are the main
sportfishing bases in Ecuador. The cold Humboldt Current from the south meets the equatorial
current along the Ecuadorian coastline and when conditions are right, the
combination of current, colour and temperature breaks amass concentrations of
baitfish that attract large striped marlin as well as larger blue and black
marlin, yellowfin and bigeye tuna.

Kenya

Striped marlin are one of three marlin species that appear in east African
waters. Kenya has the most well-developed sport fishery in this region and
every year boats from Malindi, Lamu and Watamu in the north, as well as Shimoni
in the south, see excellent striped marlin fishing.

Mexico

Cabo is known as the Striped Marlin Capital of the world. More striped
marlin are probably caught recreationally at the Mexican tourist mecca of
Cabo San Lucas than anywhere else in the world. Large
fleets of local and American sportfishing boats fish the productive banks and
offshore grounds of this renowned hot spot.

Striped marlin may be caught year round in Cabo waters but the heaviest
concentrations seem to show up in late autumn and good numbers stay around into
the spring.

On 9th Dec 2007 during the Mini WCBRT team Reelaxe released a total of 330
striped marlin in the two day tournament setting another tournament record for
a single team in two days. With a New record of 190 Striped Marlin in One day.
Team consisted of Chris Badsey, Dave Brackmann, Steve Brackmann, Alex Rogers,
Jose Espanoza , Mark Clayton, Saul Contrearus, Dennis Poulton. Top angler was
Reelaxe angler Jose Esponoza with a personal best and tournament record of 59
released striped marlin in a single day

Prior to that in November of 2007 the crew of the sportfishing vessel
Reelaxe, fishing on the Finger Bank, set a phenomenal one-day catch record of
179 striped marlin.

Further north on the Pacific coast of the Baja peninsula, great
concentrations of striped marlin also seasonally gather in the area of
Magdalena Bay.

New Zealand

Marlin fishing in New Zealand waters has a proud history that dates back to
the turn of the 20th century. New Zealand boasts the world's largest striped
marlin with fish of over 400 lb having been caught. The all-tackle striped
marlin record of 494 lb is held here, and striped marlin of over 300 lb are
caught in New Zealand waters every year. Kiwi anglers, often fishing in small
trailerable boats, pursue striped marlin from Houhoura and the North Cape in
the far north of the country to as far south as Gisborne, Raglan and Napier in
the south.

Lure fishing is probably the most popular fishing technique used by New
Zealand marlin fishermen with many good fish also being taken on live and
rigged dead baits.

Threats

The main threat to marlin, along with other highly migratory pelagic fish,
is commercial fishing. Billfish of all species are taken as commercial targets
and as by-catch in tuna and swordfish fisheries.

Recreational competitions run on a kill anything basis still form a major
problem. These are often run by organisors for financial gain. However it
should be noted recreational fishermen usually rally against and condem these
competitions.

Economic value of marlin fishing

Conservation

Awareness of the need to conserve billfish stocks worldwide has led to an
increasing trend for recreational anglers and skippers to release their catches
in as healthy a condition as possible. In some areas of the world commercial
fishing for striped, Black and blue marlin has been banned.

Anglers are well aware of the impact of commercial fishing. Where commercial
fishing has been banned marlin fishing has improved.